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Exclusive interview with singer and actress Kacey Fifield.
In an industry where standing out is both a challenge and a triumph, the artist behind the newly released single "Dream Girl" is doing just that. Kacey Fifield's unique blend of upbeat melodies paired with deep, introspective lyrics offers listeners more than just a catchy tune—it delivers an experience.
In this exclusive interview, Kacey opens up about the inspiration behind "Dream Girl," a song that challenges the notion of a perfect persona and explores the struggle of fitting into societal beauty standards. Collaborating with talented songwriters Sam Beresford (Winnetka Bowling League) and Michael Kamerman (Smallpools), she crafted a sound that is fresh and innovative, proving that pop music can indeed be both fun and meaningful.
As we dive deeper into her creative process, upcoming projects, and the balance she maintains between music and acting, you'll discover an artist who is as dynamic as her discography. Get ready to learn more about the artist's journey and what makes her music resonate with fans around the world.
We love your new single "Dream Girl" that just dropped! Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind "Dream Girl"? What personal experiences or observations influenced the song's message?
"The song was inspired by an idea I had back in August of last year about a "dream girl" who seems perfect on the surface but is actually driving herself crazy just to fit that mold. In the studio with my cowriters Sam Beresford and Michael Kamerman, as soon as we started coming up with the chorus chord progression, the lyrics "so unwell, I get possessive and I lose myself" came to me with the melody. Building on that melody idea and thinking back to the concept I came up with in August, we shaped the rest of the song to show the contrast between being a supposedly picture-perfect dream girl and the consequences of changing yourself to fit that beauty standard. I always love a super fun, upbeat pop song with a deeper meaning hidden behind the earworm melody."
The song features an interesting contrast between upbeat melodies and gritty synth and guitar lines. It's so rare these days to hear music that sounds new and fresh. How did you and your collaborators decide on this unique sound?
"The track actually changed a lot from when we first started! We were initially working with a Springsteen-esque guitar line and fairly simple production but, when we finished writing the song, we felt that the lyrics called for a quirkier, more interesting instrumental. Sam ended up playing around with a bunch of synth sounds and sending a few production ideas that we all loved! Then, we recorded some additional vocals such as the talking section and the ad-libs to fit the new track and "Dream Girl" became the song that it is!"
You mentioned wanting to write a "fun song" that also touches on serious themes like the pressure to fit certain beauty standards. How do you balance these contrasting elements in your music?
"I'm super inspired by my life and everyone around me, so the balance between fun/lightheartedness and serious introspection really depends on the song! For example, "Self Sabotage" is inspired by the situation between one of my best friends and her ex while "Left Behind" is about the anxiety I felt during my senior year of high school. The former is a much more stripped track to fit the vulnerability of the storytelling while the latter has a much fuller sound to create a sense of euphoria. The new release "Dream Girl" is definitely inspired by my own experiences, but also influenced by observations I've made about people trying to change themselves to get their crush to like them or to fit the ever-changing beauty standard. I take a lot of creative liberties when telling stories through songs so that I’m being vulnerable while still making music that others can relate to, not just me, but also so that my tracks fit different moods!"
Can you share more about the collaboration process with Sam Beresford and Michael Kamerman? What was it like working with them on "Dream Girl"?
"I love working with Sam and Michael! We also worked together on my songs “Never Reply” and “Left Behind.” They’re both so talented and unique so collaborating with them feels like a fresh perspective to my music. We really built the track together from start to finish. Michael started playing a chord progression on guitar that I loved, I came up with a melody and lyrics based on that chord progression, and Sam built the rest of the track based on the ideas we came up with in the studio. Having collaborators who understand my artistic vision is the coolest thing ever!"
In addition to "Dream Girl," you have an impressive discography including your album "Between the Lines" and EP "Nostalgia Haunts Me." How do you feel your music has evolved over time?
"As a lifelong creative, my songwriting has grown alongside me. I've always loved telling stories: I grew up recreating scenes from my favorite TV shows, writing my own scripts, and improvising one-woman musicals for my family. My childhood iPad is filled with videos of me singing songs I made up about my toys, friends, and family. Since then, I've truly grown to love songwriting as a form of self-expression and a method of connecting with others through shared feelings and experiences. My recent EP, for example, explores a lot of the feelings I experienced my senior year of high school, from the fear of being “left behind” by my peers to cutting out toxic people, like those I talk about in “Blameless” all the way to coming to terms with my emotions in “Numb Pill.” Now that I’ve finished my first year of college, expect my songs to address new themes and emotions that arose from this transitional period of my life!"
With a new single releasing soon and a performance at The Mint LA coming up, what are you most excited about for your fans to experience? Can we expect a music video?
"Performing live is my favorite part of being a musician so I’m always super excited to play shows. Anyone in Los Angeles should come to The Mint August 14th at 8:30pm, it'll be a great time!!! I'm super excited for fans to hear “Dream Girl” live for the first time ever (!!!) plus some old favorites from Between the Lines and “Nostalgia Haunts Me.” I'm not making a music video right now so I can focus on the quality of the songs themselves, but I would love to do one in the future! It's always so fun to create a visual representation of an audio experience."
You've said that your music is a way for you to express your feelings and experiences. Can you give us some insight into your creative process and how you turn your ideas into songs?
"Like I mentioned, it really depends on the song! Sometimes I'll be sitting with my guitar for hours, ruminating over chord progressions and lyrics I can match to them. Other times, I get a melody and lyric idea while I'm walking outside or hanging out with friends and have to awkwardly pull out my phone to record a voice memo before I forget. I also work with cowriters and producers so sometimes I'll come to a writing session with a fully formed idea that just needs instrumentation and sometimes I'll show up with a three-word phrase I think would be interesting for a song and we work it out together. Each songwriting process is unique!"
In addition to being a singer, you're also known as a series regular on Nickelodeon's React to That and Kid's React series on YouTube, in addition to other roles such as on Nickelodeon's Game Shakers as Karissa, Clique Wars and so much more. How do you balance it all, and also decide when you want to do what?
"For me, it’s all about balance. Right now, while I’m focusing a bit more on music, I would still gladly act in a project that I resonate with! As a full time college student as well as an artist, it’s important for me to do what I love with the spare time I have. I love acting so I’m in an improv group at my college and I love music so I spend a large portion of my free time writing songs and playing shows. All of my experiences, including my work as an actress, shape my music. I think that’s part of what makes me unique as an artist—the variety of stories I tell in my songs."
To wrap this up, I'd love for you to share your musical inspirations with us!
"There are so so many! I love Lorde, she’s an all-time favorite of mine. I also love Charli XCX, Conan Gray, Troye Sivan, Gracie Abrams, Clairo, Maude Latour, Maisie Peters, BORNS, and a ton more. Those are definitely my favorite pop artists but my taste is all over the place: I listen to rap by artists like Childish Gambino, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar as well as The Smiths, Jeff Buckley, Green Day, and a bunch more rock bands. I’d say my influences come from all over the different eras of music I love listening to!"
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